Knowledge, attitude and use of complementary and integrative health strategies: a preliminary survey of Iranian nurses.

Abbas Balouchi; Mozhgan Rahnama; Marie Hastings-tolsma; Mohammadali M Shoja; Enayatollah Bolaydehyi

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Knowledge, attitude and use of complementary and integrative health strategies: a preliminary survey of Iranian nurses.

Author: Abbas BALOUCHI ¹ ; Mozhgan RAHNAMA ² ; Marie HASTINGS-TOLSMA ³ ; Mohammadali M SHOJA ⁴ ; Enayatollah BOLAYDEHYI ⁵
Author Information

1. Research Committee Center, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Zabol University of Medical Sciences, Zabol, Iran.
2. Department of Nursing, Zabol University of Medical Sciences, Zabol, Iran.
3. Louise Herrington School of Nursing, Baylor University, Dallas, Texas 75246, USA.
4. Medical Philosophy and History Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
5. Student Research Committee, Zabol University of Medical Sciences, Zabol, Iran.
Publication Type:Journal Article
MeSH: Adult; Complementary Therapies; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Humans; Integrative Medicine; Iran; Male; Nurses
From: Journal of Integrative Medicine 2016;14(2):121-127
CountryChina
Language:English
Abstract:
BACKGROUND
BACKGROUNDDisagreement exists regarding the need for knowledge about complementary and integrative health (CIH) strategies, as well as for the need to consider such strategies in clinical nursing practice.
OBJECTIVEThis study was conducted to assess the knowledge, attitude and use of CIH strategies among nurses in Iran.
DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS AND INTERVENTIONSA cross-sectional study of nurses working in two hospitals of Zabol University of Medical Sciences, in southeast Iran, was conducted from October 2014 to April 2015. The questionnaire, developed specifically for this research, was used to assess the knowledge, attitude and use of CIH by nurses. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to interpret the survey responses.
RESULTSMost nurses (n=95, 60.5%) have average knowledge about CIH strategies with most holding a positive attitude about use (n=81, 51.6%). The majority (n=90, 57.3%) of nurses, however, never applied CIH methods. Where CIH was used, massage was most often clinically applied (n=129, 82.2%) and a large percentage believed it useful for treating illness (n=136, 87.9%). Other CIH methods commonly used included prayer and herbal medicine.
CONCLUSIONNurses have positive attitudes about CIH though knowledge was typically weak. Educational programs should carefully consider how knowledge about CIH methods could be strengthened within curricula.